The objective of this Standard is to assist pool owners/users in avoiding pool-related drowning by providing design, construction and performance of various barrier options, which are designed to restrict entry to the swimming pool area by young children.

This Standard is part of a series dealing with barriers, location of barriers and water recirculation and filtration systems for swimming pools, as follows.

AS
1926 Swimming pool safety
1926.1 Part 1: Safety barriers for swimming pools (this Standard)
1926.2 Part 2: Location of safety barriers for swimming pools
1926.3 Part 3: Water recirculation systems

This revision incorporates changes to the previous edition to correct and clarify many inconsistencies and areas of ambiguity. Technical and diagrammatic errors have been corrected to clarify particular safety issues. Glass barriers have been included for the first time.

This revision also incorporates the requirements for the design, construction and performance of gate units installed as part of a barrier from AS 2820, Gate units for private swimming pools.

Statistical evidence shows that the majority of drowning deaths in private swimming pools involve children under five years of age. For this reason, the requirements established by this Standard are directed at achieving a barrier that will make it difficult for a young child to gain access to a pool area, whether under, over or through the barrier.

It should be noted that the provisions of this Standard relate to barriers that are intended to be child resistant but not childproof, as effectiveness of the barrier is very much dependent on its location, installation and maintenance.

The requirements are established with the intention of leaving a high degree of flexibility to the consumer in the choice of barrier, desirable aesthetics and cost.

Requirements for the effective use of barriers in protecting children from pool hazards are given in AS 1926.2, Swimming pool safety, Part 2: Location of safety barriers for swimming pools.

In the development of this Standard reference was made to the Queensland Development Code (QDC).

The terms ‘normative’ and ‘informative’ have been used in this Standard to define the application of the appendix to which they apply. A ‘normative’ appendix is an integral part of the Standard, whereas in an ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and guidance.

Notes to the text contain information and guidance. They are not an integral part of the Standard.

Originated as AS 1926-1976 and AS 2820-1985. Previous editions AS 1926.1-2007 and AS 2820-1993. Revised, amalgamated and redesignated as AS 1926.1-2012.